Caterham boss Tony Fernandes has admitted he will be a happy man if his team can score their first world championship point this season, after their new CT01 challenger was officially revealed to the public on Thursday.

Caterham’s best 2011 race placing was 13th, a result they achieved in Australia, Monaco and Italy, but with the addition of KERS just one of several factors set to lift their performance in 2012, Fernandes is keen to break into the top ten.

“Target wise, I have been quoted as saying I want us to score a point this year and that really has to be the aim,” he told Caterham’s website. “It has to be.

“Towards the end of last year we were so close to the midfield cars, but our lack of KERS limited our capabilities. This year, however, with the people and facilities we have in the factory and the wind tunnel, and with KERS, I am confident that we will become a danger to many of the midfield teams, and yes, I want us to achieve a point somewhere in 2012 – maybe two if we are very lucky!”

Of the three new constructors that joined the grid in 2010, it is Caterham (formerly Team Lotus) who have made the most obvious progress, and with the Renault-powered CT01 Fernandes is confident they can continue on that upward trajectory.

“This car represents another step forward for us,” he added. “The detail right across the whole package is light years ahead of where we were when we first started out, and we are all excited about seeing what it can do when we get on track.”

The CT01 is due to be fired up in Caterham’s UK factory in Hingham on Friday, before making its test debut at the first pre-season session at Jerez in Spain on February 7-10.